At least 26 Naxals were killed in an encounter with security forces in the dense forests of Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma confirmed on Wednesday.

Speaking to ANI, Sharma stated, “More than 26 Naxalites have been neutralized by the security forces. Our forces fought bravely, and the operation is still ongoing with further search efforts underway,”.

Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao also hailed the operation’s success, reiterating the government’s commitment to make Bastar region Naxal-free by March 2026. “After assuming office, we launched an intensive program to eliminate Naxalism from Bastar. This encounter in Narayanpur is a major success and a step toward our goal,” he added.

Speaker of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly, Raman Singh, also commended the security forces for the successful operation. “I congratulate the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and State Home Minister Vijay Sharma for their leadership. Our forces carried out this operation in extreme temperatures of 40 to 42 degrees Celsius, and the people of Bastar have shown overwhelming support for peace and development,” Singh said.

(With ANI inputs)